Reflections on Wings and Chris

Boy, did we have a wild couple of days earlier this week. On Sunday we drove down to Columbus to visit with some friends from college. One of these friends, Chris Cieto, was visiting from New Hampshire. To commemorate the visit, on Tuesday we gathered at Quaker Steak & Lube for all-you-can-eat wings night! We ended up having more than twenty people from our OU days there.

Aside from that we spent a couple of days catching up with these amazing friends. We laughed really hard and stayed up late. It was awesome. Kathi and I are so grateful for friends that we can pick up with right where we left off. It doesn't matter how long it's been since we've been together, it never felt like we were apart. Man, we wish these guys.

Reflections on Voting

For the most part, I've avoided political comments on this blog mainly because I'm disillusioned with politics in America. Regardless, I have been very fascinated by the Democratic and Republican primaries recently. But, with all of my interest it's hard for me to really believe that my vote really counts. I don't mean that in the sense that most people mean it. It's hard for me to have confidence in the political process because politicians are essentially professional con artists. Their objective in an election campaign is to make themselves into the image of who they believe the electorate wants them to be. Once a candidate is elected, he or she hardly ever turns out to be the "person" you were voting for. You instead were voting for an image concocted by campaign managers and spin doctors.

I did discover something really cool though. There is a website that provides non-partisan information regarding candidates policy positions, personal beliefs, and voting records. It has really helped me cut through some of the bull. Not only that, it gives details of state and local ballot issues. I highly recommend it. It's called VoteSmart.org. The technology is available to truly make our leaders accountable, but we need to use it.

Reflections on Happy Fun Leslie

Yesterday afternoon I got a call from Leslie Chamberlain saying that she's on the road coming to visit us from Philadelphia. Surprise! So, today we had Happy Fun Leslie Day! Much to her chagrin, Leslie traveled to Ohio right in the midst of the biggest snow storm so far this year. Leslie was therefore stranded at our place. We did what any self-respecting 30-year old would do in these situations. We went sledding.

Go times were had all around. Included in the great moments today was making the Poop Mountain Snowman. I know that sounds weird, but it's a little too in depth to go into. And, you probably don't want to hear about it anyway. Regardless, it was some amazing Leslie time. Tomorrow she gets to drive all the way back to Philly in freezing rain, so have fun with that, Les.

Reflections on Church Ambivalence

One of the things that disturbs me about Christians my age is the total ambivalence and at times hatred they have for the Church. I know that it's hard to blame people. The Church is a messy business. But, the mantra of many young Christians concerning the Church is, "no thanks". For all of its foibles and sins, the Church is still the Bride of Christ. It makes me so sad that so many believers are giving up on her. Today I came across this quote from Carlo Carretto, which shows such a beautiful and authentic heart for the Church:

How baffling you are, oh Church, and yet how I love you! How you have made me suffer, and yet how much I owe you! I should like to see you destroyed, and yet I need you presence. You have given me so much scandal and yet you have made me understand sanctity. I have seen nothing in the world more devoted to obscurity, more compromised, more false, and I have touched nothing more pure, more generous, more beautiful. How often I have wanted to shut the doors of my soul in your face, and how often I have prayed to die in the safety of your arms. No, I cannot free myself from you, because I am you, although not completely. And where should I go?